A journey to the enchanting continent of Africa is a dream for many travel enthusiasts. Its vast landscapes, vibrant cultures, and rich history have inspired countless adventurers and writers to share their experiences through the power of books about traveling the world. 

Do you seek practical advice or yearn for captivating stories that paint a vivid picture of this extraordinary land? No matter what you’re looking for the best African travel books offer a gateway to exploring its diverse wonders.

From gripping memoirs to evocative travelogues, each book on our list encapsulates the spirit of adventure, inviting readers to embark on a literary safari across this captivating continent. In this article, we present a list of the 8 best African travel books that will ignite your wanderlust and provide valuable insights into the continent’s hidden treasures.

Through their words, these authors have brought to life the wonders and mysteries of Africa, unveiling its true essence and dispelling common misconceptions. 

Whether you’re planning your first trip or looking to relive the magic of a previous trip, these journey books will inspire you to explore the wonders that this intriguing continent has to offer. Join us as we explore the must-read African travel books.

8 Best Africa Travel Books that take you on a literary safari

1. Lonely Planet Africa 14 Popular African Guide

Lonely Planet Africa 14 (Travel Guide) is a remarkable top-selling Amazon travel guide for any adventurer seeking to embark on a journey across the vast and captivating continent. 

This is one of the greatest travel books and a treasure trove of information, ensuring that your African expedition is tailored to your interests and preferences.

Featuring stunning color maps and images throughout its pages, Lonely Planet Africa 14 has become a top book about Africa among picture books about travel. This guidebook extensively covers countries like Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, and more.

Whether you seek recommendations for dining, accommodations, sightseeing, or shopping, this type of travel picture book ensures that you can make informed decisions while exploring Africa.

Moreover, the cultural insights offered within the best African travel books provide a deeper understanding of the continent’s history enriching your travel experience.

With its insightful itineraries and insider tips, you’ll navigate Africa like a local, avoiding crowds and discovering hidden treasures that other books about journeys may overlook.

2. Fodor’s The Complete Guide to African Safaris

This is another great option among Amazon travel books written by local specialists with 80 years of travel experience. It gives useful guidance, rigorously verified recommendations, and up-to-date coverage for eastern and southern Africa, including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, and Rwanda.

This full-color travel guide is a treasure trove of information and makes it popular among traveling books for kids. Fodor’s correspondents highlight the best safari country destinations, allowing you to determine the perfect location with the help of Fodor’s best Africa travel books.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Africa with Fodor’s special full-color features. Gorgeous photos captured by Fodor’s travelers provide endless inspiration, allowing you to envision the beauty in these best travel essays.

From internet resources to packing lists, this guidebook provides essential tips to make your journey stress-free. Discover Fodor’s Choice selections, highlighting the best hotels, nightlife spots, and more, ensuring that you make the most of your time in Africa.

Experience the magic of Africa safari travel book, hailed as one of the best Africa travel books available.

3. Fodor’s Essential South Africa: with the Best Safari Destinations and Wine Regions

Fodor’s Essential South Africa is a great choice among illustrated books about a journey. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant city of Cape Town, venturing into the wilds of Kruger National Park, or traversing the scenic Garden Route, this guidebook offers multiple itineraries to help you make the most of your time.

With over 35 detailed maps, navigating South Africa becomes a breeze, and the colorful photographs throughout the book ignite your wanderlust and is hailed as one of the best travel books for young adults. Honest recommendations on sights, restaurants, hotels, and nightlife ensure that you have a memorable and authentic experience.

Special features, such as “South Africa’s Unusual Accommodations” and “South Africa with Kids,” cater to different travel interests and offer unique perspectives on the country’s diverse offerings.

Fodor’s Essential South Africa is filled with practical tips and trip-planning tools. Whether you’re interested in exploring the Cape Winelands, witnessing the breathtaking Blyde River Canyon, or embarking on a wildlife adventure in Addo Elephant National Park, this travel book for kids and adults has you covered.

This guidebook by local authors offers insider information and unearths hidden gems. Language primers in Afrikaans, Swahili, and Zulu equip you with essential phrases for a more immersive experience.

Plan your African safari travel ebook adventure with confidence with Fodor’s collection of best African travel books offering up-to-date coverage on major destinations and attractions, including Johannesburg, Durban, Victoria Falls, and more.

4. DK Eyewitness South Africa Travel Guide

Prepare to immerse yourself in the vibrant beauty and diverse landscapes of South Africa with DK Eyewitness South Africa travel books for toddlers and adults.

This comprehensive guidebook is your ultimate companion, providing expert-led insights, stunning visuals, and trusted travel advice to ensure you experience the very best that South Africa has to offer.

From the majesty of Table Mountain to the breathtaking wildlife encounters, from the golden beaches to the world-class wineries, South Africa is a destination that caters to every traveler’s desires making it a great choice in the best non-fiction travel books.

This is a newly updated guide among the best African travel books. A thorough guide to South Africa’s wildlife, geography, and vegetation focuses on local conservation efforts.

Accessible itineraries maximize time, while experienced advice assures safe and efficient navigation. Color-coded chapters, practical recommendations, and full maps provide everything you need to eat, drink, shop, and stay in each South African location.

Unveil the riches of South Africa with DK Eyewitness, one of the best African travel books available. Let the expert recommendations, captivating visuals, and insightful travel advice inspire you as you embark on an unforgettable journey through this captivating country. 

5. Lonely Planet East Africa 11 

Lonely Planet East Africa is one of the most popular travel series books. With colorful maps and images throughout, you’ll have a visual understanding of the region’s diverse landscapes and attractions. 

These travel books 2022 use highlights and itineraries to help you tailor your trip to your personal interests, ensuring you make the most of your time. Insider tips provide valuable insights to save time and money, and help you navigate like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots.

Essential information is at your fingertips, from operating hours and contact details to transit tips and prices. Honest reviews cater to all budgets, offering recommendations for eating, sleeping, sightseeing, shopping, and uncovering hidden gems that other famous travel writers may miss.

Explore East Africa’s distinct history, music, landscapes, and wildlife with this top contender on our list of best African books. From Nairobi’s busy streets to Rwanda’s gorgeous Volcanoes National Park, you’ll learn about East Africa’s people, cuisine, and politics. 

6. Lonely Planet Southern Africa 7

Lonely Planet Southern Africa is designed to enhance your travel experience. With stunning color maps and images throughout its travel book ideas, you’ll have a visual feast of the landscapes, attractions, and cultural richness of Southern Africa. 

Essential information, such as hours of operation, contact details, transit tips, and prices, is readily available at your convenience. Just like the other best African travel books, this too has a compilation of reviews that guide you about eateries, monuments, hotels, shopping, and uncovering hidden gems. 

Whether you’re climbing the world’s oldest sand dunes in Sossusvlei, exploring the timeless beauty of Mozambique Island, or embarking on world-class wildlife-watching in Etosha National Park, this guidebook ensures a rich and rewarding travel experience. Lonely Planet South Africa book is the perfect choice for both exploring top sights and venturing off the beaten path.

Lonely Planet Southern Africa is one of those books about wanderlust that become your passport to adventures, as you immerse yourself in the beauty, culture, and natural wonders of this remarkable region. 

7. Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries: Safari Planning Guide

Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries is the ultimate guidebook for planning an extraordinary safari adventure in Africa. Highlighting and comparing major attractions in the continent’s best countries, this comprehensive guide makes it easy to plan any journey. These features make it a top contender among the best African travel books.

It is the go-to travel reading option for travelers seeking the best destinations and experiences for their wildlife safari. With its easy-to-read charts and insightful information, Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries assists readers in choosing the best destinations based on their specific preferences. The “When’s the Best Time to Go for Game Viewing” chart allows readers to select reserves and countries based on their vacation period. 

The “What Wildlife is Best Seen Where” chart helps locate reserves known for their abundance of specific animals. The “Safari Activities” chart allows readers to choose reserves that offer the safari options they are most interested in, such as night drives, canoeing, walking, ballooning, and more. 

This jam-packed African travel guide features over 400 photos and 75 color maps, providing a great choice among picture books about traveling. It covers 15 countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and South Africa—the best travel guide in safari and countries in Africa.

From photo safaris to mountain climbing, gorilla and chimpanzee safaris to bird watching, canoeing to hot-air balloon safaris, this guidebook covers a wide range of safari activities, ensuring there’s something for every traveler’s interest and adventure level.

Discover the wonders of Africa’s wildlife, landscapes, and safari opportunities with Africa’s Top Wildlife Countries, one of the best Africa travel books on the market. 

8. Fodor’s The Complete Guide to African Safaris

Fodor’s best-selling travel books enter the list again with its Complete Guide to African Safaris. The top travel books by Fodor simplify travel preparation and maximize your time in this wonderful continent with well-chosen recommendations, maps, and crucial information.

Fodor’s African travel specialists can help you experience the Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania, Botswana’s Okavango Delta, or Victoria Falls. 

Fodor’s The Complete Guide to African Safaris is a comprehensive travel companion offering various features to enhance your safari experience making it one of the best African travel books.

From the illustrated Ultimate Experiences Guide to multiple itineraries that help you maximize your time, this comes in the list of popular travel books. Over 35 detailed maps provide confidence in navigation, while stunning color photos spark your wanderlust and inspire your journey. 

This guidebook provides honest recommendations from locals, ensuring you discover the best sights, restaurants, hotels, activities, and beach destinations. Photo-filled “Best of” features offer captivating insights into Africa’s wildlife, plants and trees, and more. Trip-planning tools and practical tips cover everything from when to go and getting around to beating the crowds and saving time and money.

Whether you’re a young adult seeking adventure, a family planning a memorable trip, or simply a wildlife enthusiast, Fodor’s comprehensive guide will help you create cherished memories and a truly remarkable experience through the best African travel books. 

Our Final Words

All the listed best African travel resources in this article will take you on captivating journeys across the vast and diverse continent, offering glimpses into its rich history, vibrant cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and extraordinary wildlife. 

From guidebooks that provide essential information and insider tips to immerse readers in the local experiences, to narrative-driven memoirs and captivating fiction that transport us to the heart of Africa’s enchantment, these books offer a gateway to the wonders of the continent.

With each page, these best African travel books reveal the soul of Africa, challenging stereotypes and showcasing its profound beauty, resilience, and diversity. 

So, pick up one of these best African travel books of all time and let the pages transport you to the captivating destinations, untamed wilderness, and vibrant communities that define this extraordinary continent.